Shock absorber



, .1,529,680 E. UV. ACKERMAN ET AL SHOCK ABSORBER Filed my zo, 192s l 2sheets-sheer 1 6% ,5.

March 17, 1925.

E. W. ACKERMAN ET AL SHOCK ABSORBER Filed vJuly so, 19.25Y

2 Smeets-Sheetv 2 Fatented Marr.. 17, 1.925o

"misuse w. Aussenan- AND entri-'1TH c. NICHOLSON, or Monson, rarement.

1,529,680A err sra-'res PATENT OFFICE,

SHOCK .ABSORBEIL Application filed July 30,

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ERNEST W. Acm- 'MAN and GRIFFITH C. NICHOLSON,citizens of the United States, residing at Monroe, in the county ofMonroe and State of Mich- .igan, have invented certain new and useiulImprovements in Shock Absorber-s, of which the following' is aspecification.

lThis invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in shockabsorbers for motor vehicles; and has particular reference to devices ofthis kind by means ohwhich the shock resulting from rebound is absorbedso that objectionable jolti'ng oli the occupants of a vehicle is greatlyminimized. The primary object of the invention isto generally simplifyand improve devices the above kind whereby they may meet with- 19.23.seriaiuo. 654,545.

Figure Sais a view partly in section and.l

partly in front elevation of the device shown in Figure 1 and drawn on alarger scale. Figure 4 isa fragmentary transverse Sectional view, takenthrough the shock ab-l sorber casing to reveal details of the invention.I

.Figure 5 is a side elevational view ofthe piston, and i Figure 6v is aninner face View.; thethe invention embodies a circular casing '5 having'an inner side wall 6 which is prefer` all of the requirements for asuccessful com- \.ably formed integral with the rim oi the mercial use.l

Another object of the invention is to provide a shock absorber whichembraces the desired qualities of simplicity and durability ofconstruction as well as efficiency in operation.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a shock absorber of thehydraulic os c'illatingpiston type; wherein a minimum number of partsare employed, andwhcrcin said parts are of a durable and simple form andcapable of being easily and quickly replaced when worn or damagr l.

L further object of the invention is to provide means for connectingthe'casing of a shock absorber to the side rails of the chassis of amotor vehicle, which means may be readily accommodated to chassis railsof different sizes in a convenient and eX- pcditious manner.

Other objects will appear as the nature of the invention is betterunderstood, and the same consists in the novel form, combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in theaccom'- panying' drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views:

Figure l is aI side elevational view, showingr the shock absorberconstructed in acordancc with the present invention and applied to thefront spring of a motor Vehicle chassis.

.Figure Qis an'fenlargrcd side view of the sho( k absorber with theremovable side plate removed and parts inset-tion'.

casing, the outer side o the latter being closed by means of theremovable vcover plate 7 which is preferably threaded into the outer endof the casingr as shown in Figure 4. Arranged within the casing 5 is abearing plate 8, which is in contact with the inner surface (if-the wall6 and has an outer circular casing 5 so as to' provide a chambertherebetween. Arranged within this chamber is an arcuate block orabutment 10, and as shown in Figure-2, this abutment may Abe heldstationary by pinning the same to the adjacent walls of the flange 9 andcasing by means of screws 11 or the like.

The abutment 10 is formed with a pair of longitudinal grooves 12 and 13which extend from one end of the abutment to respective ones of a pairof radial ports Mend 15, respectively, which are provided in theabutment. 'lhe walls of .these ports are formed to provide annularllseats 16 for outwardly seating check valves 17 and 18` which arelpreferably in thc nature of small spheres loosely arranged in theenlarged inner portions of said ports 14 and 15. As shown in Figures 2and G, the vports 14 and 15` are in communication at the opposite end ofthe abutment 10 by means of grooves' 19 provided in the inner face ofthe abutment. and an adjusting screw 20 is threaded radially through theouter wall et' the casing. land enters the port of one of the valves 17and i8 so that the inner end of saidscrew engages said valve forlimiting Thee-ll tter in its 'movement toward its seht. The 'screw 20thereby provides means for adjustably regulating the degree of closintrmovement nol of the valve with which it iszlassociated so that a certainamount of fluid may pass through the abutment from one side of thelatter 'to the edlen-for a purpose-and in a manner which will presentlybecome ap parent. ,y

The ilange 9 of the bearing sleeve -8 ltelescopes onto an annularinternal liange 21 provided on the removable cover plate 7, and saidflange 9 is provided with an arcuate slot 22 in which is movable aradially and youtwardly extending arm 23 that 1s suitably fixed upon acentral transverse rock shaft 2A. The rock shaft 24 referably embodiesan enlarged cylindricalp end portion jonr- -nailed in the flange 21, anda circular socket 25 is provided in the inner'` face of the'`bearinglplate 8 in which the inner end of the shaft 24 is journalled.The cover p'late 7 is also provided `with an external annular flange 26that is of slightly greater diameter than vthe flange 21 and internallythreaded ,s to receive a threaded packing ring 27, while asuitablepacking 28 isdisposed within the ilanve 26 about the shaft 24 andinwardly of trlie packing ring 27 to prevent leakage of` the fluid outof this end of the casing from the chamber between the outer wall of'the casing and the flange 9.

A n -arcuate piston 29 is arranged within..

the chambervprovided between the casing andftheilange 9 and is movabletherein for =a limited distance, one endl of this piston being providedwith a transverse groove or notch 30 in its inner face to receive theenlarved lieadm31 provided on the outer end i .ofthe arm 23. The shaft24 projects through `the flange 26 where itf is preferably squared as at32, for reception of one end of an arm 33 which isy adapted to-beconnected to the axle 34 of the vehicle or some other part to which thespring 35 is connected, by means :of a connection'including a ldependinglink 36 which is pivoted tothe outer end of the arm 33.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the'be'aring plate 8 is provided with acentral rigid bolt v37 that projects through a central opening in "thewalll, and this bolt37 is adapted to extend through an opening .in theweb of the chassisside bar 38 and Ito receive a nut 39 whereby thecasing 5 and parts carried thereby are rigidly attached in place. lnorder thatlthe casing 5 may be hcldvagainst rotation in the direction.in ywhich resistance is oifcredto the movement of the piston 29, thelwall 6 is .providedwith an annular series of radial elongated lugs 40,which are seated within similar sockets inpa bracket'plate 41 which isloosely disposed upon the bolt 37 and thisvbracket plate .41 is formedwith a.

.radially extending larm 42 whose outerend "terxxnatea -in an outwardlyextending lug .43, to engage the-'underside of the chassis r or rail 38,when disposed on an @nains shown m Figure 1. Dbviausly by disengagingthe lugs 40 from the sockets of the plate 41, the .angular position ofthe arm 42 maybe ehanged'so as to accomodate the 'device to the chassisrails of different sizes.

The casing. may be filled with a suitable fluid, 'such as oil, throughan opening provided therein and which i's closed by means of a removableplug 44.,

In operation, the screw 20 Ais adjusted so as to limit the movement ofthe valve I7 the desired distance from its seat I6, whereby when thepiston'29 rotates clockwise, a certain amount of the oil willrbe allowedto pass through the abutment 10. When a de pression or otherirregularity is encountered in the road, ,the spring 35 will be pressedupwardly 'toward vthe chassis, thereby causing the arm 33 to move upwardand' mov ing the piston 29 in an anti-Cloe wise direc-v tion toward theabutment 10'. "The fluid is then forced through the grooves'12 and' 13and the ports 14 and l5 at whchtime'the check valves are readilyunseated so as to form little or no opposition to thepassage of thefluid through the abutment to the fopposte side-of the latter. Upon thereturn of" the spring and' chassis to normal position,L the arm 22 ismoved downwardly so as to cause movement of the piston 29mA a clock-.wise direction, thereby compressing'the Huid between the piston and theadjacent end' of the abutment 10. This cegipression 'takes place as thevalve 18 is seated and the valve 17 is nearly seated for allowing only asmall amount of the fluid to pass through the abutment in thisdirection. In this way, the shock resulting from the rebound iseffectively absorbed.

From, the foregoing description, it is believed that the constructionand operation as well as the advantages of the resent invenq tion willbe readily understood) and appreciated by those skilled in the art. f

Minor changes mayy be made without rdeparting from the spirit and scopeofthe invention as claimed. I'

What we. claim as new is: i 1. lny combinationv with a shock absorbecasing having an inwardly extending attaching screw or bolt adapted topass through` th web of the side rail of'a vehicle chassis, i

vided on said bracket plate, and an outturned lug onthe outer end ofsaid arm adapted to engage the under side ofthe 'side rail of thechassis-when said arm is. disposed y l' .it an incline.

2. ln a hydraulic shock absorber of c asf/tacco A i the casing' andprovided with an arcuate o means ier connecting said shaft to the oi avehicle, for causing rotation of said spring is 'tlexedn outextendingradial arm lixed upon said shaft and Working in said/slot, au arcuatepistou arranged. Within thecasing between the ange oi' the nearing plateand the casing and having a notch at one end into which 'the out-ei' endci said asm projects, a ixed abutment arranged 'Within the casingoetween 'the bearing plate flange and the casing and povided'with portsthru which fluid in the casing may iovv from one side of the abutment tothe otheir, cheek valves for peruittimf free flow oi" the fluid in onedirection' n@ p pi'ei'enting the dos? o the same in the oppositedirection, and means associated with one of Asald vaives and the casingfor adjnstably limiting the moi-ement ofone of the 'valves toward itsseat whereby restricted dow ost the 'fluid is allowed in said other d1-rection.

3. 'in e hydrauiic shock absorber of the class described, a cylindricalcasing having side Walls, one owhich is removable and .is formed with anannular inwardly extending flange, a' bear11ig plate disposed Within thecasing (against the inner Wall thereof and pi'ovided with a centralsocket, a rigid cir'- ciilar ilauge upon the bearing plate telea scopedonto the iiange of the removable Wall the casing and provided With anarcuate sist, means 'for connecting said shaft to the spring of vehiclefor `causing rotation of the when said spring is ilexed, an outev ardlyextending adial arm fixed upon said shaft working in said slot, anarcuate i f arranged within casing between ange of the bearing plate andthe casd having; a notch atene end into which endet said arm projects, afixed estranged within the casing between the beating plate flange andthe casand povided with portsthru which 'finie in the casing .may timefrom one yside of abutment Ythe other, check Valves for pei-mittimg free:dow of the duid in one direction and. pieventing the iow of the samethe opposite direction and means asso- =iaced with one of seid veivesand the casing .ting mem er, and said setting for adjustably iimitingthe movement eigene oi the valves toward its seat whereby re strictediow 0i the fluid is allowed in said other direction, said bearing platehaving an integral bolt projecting inwardly through the inner Wall ottthe casing and adapted to pass through the side rail of a chassis totsecuring the shock absorber to the latter.

e. A hydiaulic shock absorber including a circular casing, a bearingplate within the casing having an annular flange in spaced relation tothe outer Wall of the casingto provide an annular chamber, a shaftjournallcd axially inA one wall of the casing and the bearing plate,said flange of the bearing plate being formed with an arcuate slot, aradial arm fixed' upon the shaft, an arcuate piston Within said chamberattached to the outer end of said arma iiied abutment ar ranged withinthe chamber and having passages therethrough through which fluid in the,chamber may pass in either direction,

and means including a pair of check valves l including a member 'forattaching said cas ing to said frame bar to permit a relative rotativemovement ofI the casing on the frame bai' for adjusting theisamerelative thereto, and setting means eo-operating with the casing and theframe bar for setting said casing in any one oi the plurality of po-vsitions relative to said. frame bar. 6. In combination, a shoctabsorber' cas'- ing, and means 'for attaching said casing to--v theframe bar of a vehicle chassis, said means including a member forattaching said casing and holding it in position on the trame bar, and asetting menibeihaving means cooperatingwth means on the shock absorbercasing adapted for disengageable association for permitting relativeadjustment of a shock absorber casing to any one of a plu-- ositionswith respect to said set member being formed for (3o-operation with theframe bar of a vehicle chassis, wherebysaid shock absorber casingmay beset rality of in any one of a plurality of positions relative to saidtrame bar.

In testimony whereof we aliix our signatures. 1

y ERNEST W. ACKERMAN.

GRFFlTl- C. 'NECHOLSGN los

